________________________________________________________ *** VINTAGE & TRADITIONAL GUITARS *** - NEW LISTING - 05​/​10​/​2024! _________________________________________________________ ACOUSTIC BLUES​/​ JAZZ VINTAGE ARCHTOP - REGAL​/​ KAY, CHICAGO, USA, LATE 1930s GUITAR, RESTORED & WITH WARTIME HISTORY - Thought to be possibly "Playtime" brand, made for Sears, probably by Regal or Kay, appears Solid Birch construction - restoration to full playing condition completed! Newtone "Archtop" Double Wound strings. __________________________________________________________ Stock Number: VTG1396. *** Normally my price for a restored Vintage 1930s Archtop like the one would not be less than £699, so this one offered at a very keen price of £549, reflecting the lack of clear brand history...although to my mind the look of the guitar is just the essence of a pre-war guitar. In addition to the following description notes, further background information and restoration details can be found on my Vintage & Traditional Guitars website, on this link....https://www.vintagetraditionalguitars.co.uk/details.php?id=505 This guitar came in some years ago, with advice that it had come over from the States with an American GI during WW11. Photocopied images in the case, and reproduced in the photos to this description show the guitar being played in a band by a British serviceman in Royal Signals uniform....note, the headstock brand name had already gone! The guitar appears to be of all solid Birch construction, typical of Chicago-made guitars of this period, with grained finishes to resemble Spruce & Maple effects to top & back respectively. In terms of dimensions, headstock & F-hole styles, and some other fittings, the guitar closely resembles the Carl Fischer archtop I also have currently available. Possibly made by the same maker...likely Regal or Kay? Cosmetically the guitar is generally in good shape for age. Top & back seams have traditional bindings,. There is some not unsightly crazing to parts of the finish, and sections of localised finish wear and limited loss, as per photos, but I think that the photos show that the guitar remains a handsome c.85 year old! After completion of neck and fingerboard reset, it was decided that the loss of limited areas of finish, over and beyond the natural finish wear the guitar showed, did warrant some limited finish restoration work, skilfully completed by the luthier, Colin Keefe, still maintaining maximum originality. Restoration repairs were assessed with the professional luthier I work with, and completed work has included neck reset, having removed the fingerboard and glued​/​added hardwood veneer liner to the underside to correct unevenness in the fingerboard, and adjust alignment, followed by re-levelling the 'board, maintaining original approx. 12" radius, and re-fretting has been completed. Original tuner machines were not in good shape, and have been replaced with new StewMac Golden Age Restoration tuners, which are a drop-in replacement, with dedicated matching bushings, giving the precise tuning of new tuners, whilst maintaining vintage fittings style, but slightly shaped, "Bell-end", just shows small shadow imprint of the original square end tuners. The floating bridge in place when it came is possibly not the original, is very much the same age​/​type. It has been adjusted and retained as it is entirely in keeping in terms of style and period, and I have adjusted the base to provide better seating on the top which not unusually has developed a slightly uneven profile, with additional reinforcement to the underside. The original looking nut has been removed and is sound, and of bone. It has been adjusted and re-fitted following fingerboard work. The metal tailpiece is sound, generally clean & bright. Original black pickguard has also been re-fitted. With relevelled and re-fretted fingerboard and corrected neck angle the guitar plays very well, with a comfortable "V" profile neck, typical of similar guitars of the period, with good archtop action of around 3mm. at the 12th fret. It has been strung with a set of Newtone Masterclass Monel 12-54 strings. There is an old case with the guitar, of substantial hard construction, quite possibly the case that brought it across the pond (with military escort?), which with a replacement for the broken handle, and other TLC, might be again made serviceable. I may be able to offer additional options of period or modern hardshell cases (including Hiscox Liteflite), or a gigbag, and the guitar will be packed securely if postage is required. Additional details, links to YouTube videos etc. are available on my VTG website via the link above. I have restricted the wording here to a basic outline, so please do fully research the details provided on my VTG website, and contact me for any further information in order to fulfil your purchase. Thank you, Bob Chaffer, Vintage & Traditional Guitars.